Angela Baker, a First Euless missionary supported by the Miracle, sent us this update:
Hello Everyone!
It was 3 months ago today that I arrived in Moscow! I realized that as I was working today. It is hard to believe it has only been 3 months! It feels as though I have been here much longer than that. I don't know if that is due to my familiarity with my surroundings or whether it is because everything here just takes so much more time and goes so much slower, but it is a positive feeling regardless.
I spent December working to gain an understanding of the situation here in Moscow and trying to make contacts. January has been spent working on a ministry plan. When I was expressing my frustration at how slow things seem to be taken recently, a good friend reminded me of two things:
1) Laying the foundation is the most important part in beginning a new ministry. Just as with building a house, the foundation work might not look to the outside world as progress but it is the most important aspect and worth taking the time to do right. That illustration really resonated with me and challenged me not to be hasty as I start a new ministry from the ground up.
2) I am in Russia.
This fact seems at first glance, to be quite simple and even comical. Of course, I am in Russia! I am aware of this every minute of every day, but that statement has much more to do with understanding expectations than geographical location. Being in Russia means- every thing goes much, much slower. This is not a culture that operates on the same time and productivity expectations we have in the US. It means that the government actually does declare 10 consecutive days state holidays and so no one other than gas stations, groceries stores, and entertainment outlets do anything. For ten days at the end of December and the beginning of January- nothing gets done! This is normal and I am the odd one for still hoping to have meetings during the "holidays." Crazy American that I am! :) Being in Russia means that everything happens through relationships and relationships take time. It was a good reminder because even with having lived in Moscow before, I forgot to what extent things are slower and more about relationships here.
This fact seems at first glance, to be quite simple and even comical. Of course, I am in Russia! I am aware of this every minute of every day, but that statement has much more to do with understanding expectations than geographical location. Being in Russia means- every thing goes much, much slower. This is not a culture that operates on the same time and productivity expectations we have in the US. It means that the government actually does declare 10 consecutive days state holidays and so no one other than gas stations, groceries stores, and entertainment outlets do anything. For ten days at the end of December and the beginning of January- nothing gets done! This is normal and I am the odd one for still hoping to have meetings during the "holidays." Crazy American that I am! :) Being in Russia means that everything happens through relationships and relationships take time. It was a good reminder because even with having lived in Moscow before, I forgot to what extent things are slower and more about relationships here.
So with those two things I look back on the past two months and see productivity and I am excited to share with you what I hope will be happening in the next two weeks. Relationships have been made, a foundation laid and I have great hope of being able to build on top of the two and begin a orphan ministry outreach from Moscow Bible Church this next month. Please pray specifically, as I approach the director of Boarding School #54 in Moscow. I have great hopes of the director being open to our involvement because of past relationships with the school. I have had so many people from Moscow Bible express their interest in helping in this type of ministry- the only component now missing is the place. So please join me in prayer for God to lead me to the right orphanage and to move the directors heart to allow us to become involved. School 54 is my first school- the one with which I have the greatest relationship base, but I have a list of 41 other orphanages or children's hospitals that I can contact if the director of 54 doesn't want our help. I apologize that my December update didn't come (having your internet stop working during the 10 day black hole of the Russian holidays set me back a bit on work.) My update letters will continue to come once a month barring any unusual circumstances. I look to start updating my website more frequently as well. I am attaching a picture of me and some children from an orphanage about an hour and a half outside of Moscow. The kids were very excited to have their pictures taken with us. The orphanage has a group come over a couple times a year from the US to help them with some of the physical needs, but I am hoping to be able to connect their orphanage with a local church for ongoing ministry.
Thank you all for your prayers and support! I hope you all have a blessed day!
Serving Christ,
Angela
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